Denison University and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center announced a new partnership to provide expanded health and wellness services for the Denison community. The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s recognized expertise in health and wellness and health care administration, along with an understanding of the unique needs of the higher education community, make the medical center an ideal partner to enhance the health care services offered on Denison’s fully residential campus.

An agreement signed in April 2022 paves the way for Denison and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to collaborate on the following services:

• Comprehensive health and well-being support, guided by a wellness director, drawing from evidence-based programs in areas such as mindfulness and physical health.
• Increased access to on-campus mental health services, led by a psychologist in the role of director of mental well-being, which includes enhanced specialist care.
• Sports medicine services, featuring access to comprehensive service offerings and providers including physician and athletic training services for student-athletes.
• Enhanced access to on-campus specialty care, such as musculoskeletal and physical therapy.

“We are thrilled to offer these expanded resources for our community,” said Denison University President Adam Weinberg. “At its core, the goal of the liberal arts is to develop ‘whole people’ who are prepared to thrive in their personal, professional, and civic lives. By enhancing our health and wellness services and partnering with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center for convenient, expert care, we better position our campus and community members to lead their best and healthiest lives.”

The new partnership builds on a growing number of initiatives to support the holistic well-being of Denison’s community, an effort which the university was recognized for in 2020 as one of five colleges to win the national Active Minds Healthy Campus Award. Denison’s next step in promoting wellness will transform the campus’ health climate and landscape. In the fall of 2022, the 16,000-square-foot Ann and Thomas Hoaglin Wellness Center will open as a hub packed with resources for health and well-being.

“We are always stronger when we work together, and there is perhaps no more worthy cause in pooling our resources than to provide additional health and wellness services to as many members of our collective higher education community as possible,” said The Ohio State University President Kristina M. Johnson. “The keys to academic, personal and professional success lie in mental and physical well-being, and we know that the past several years have added stresses and strains the likes of which we have not previously seen. This partnership will undoubtedly lead to happier, healthier outcomes for all participants, which makes the endeavor more than worthwhile.”

The collaboration also deepens ties between Denison and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, which partnered extensively on efforts to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic.

“We are energized by this collaborative partnership with Denison University because of our shared vision to improve the health and well-being of this community,” said Jennifer Dauer, chief strategy and transformation officer at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “By blending our care with Denison’s expertise, we are making health and wellness more accessible. This collaboration is one of the ways we can transform the way health care is delivered, and we look forward to what we will accomplish together.”